"But what did [Jesus] do?" [the Jewish leaders] asked [the man who had been blind]. "How did he heal you?"
"Look!" the man exclaimed. "I told you once. Didn't you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?"
—John 9:26-27 NLT
Sometimes folks make themselves the enemies of the truth because they don't want to discover it. The interchange between the Jewish authorities and the man who was healed reaches an absurd and almost humorous point. The authorities interrogate the healed man because they want to find some discrepancy in his story so they can discredit Jesus. They don't want the truth, so the healed man chides them for their repeated questions. This bitter irony helps us understand that the authorities reject Jesus because they have decided he is the enemy and so they must re-write the truth of his grace and power. Unfortunately, there are those who do the same thing with Jesus today. Their evil deeds have alienated them from the truth. We, however, must love them, pray for their hearts to be changed, and live as people with a Christ-like character looking for an opportunity to share the Savior's grace.
Father, I have friends who are far from your Kingdom. I know that some of them have hardened their hearts because they are caught up in sin. Please use me and my influence to bring them to Jesus. Please be actively at work in their lives to do all within your will to give them reasons to re-evaluate their lives and the way they are living. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2022 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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"Look!" the man exclaimed. "I told you once. Didn't you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?"
—John 9:26-27 NLT
Key Thought
Sometimes folks make themselves the enemies of the truth because they don't want to discover it. The interchange between the Jewish authorities and the man who was healed reaches an absurd and almost humorous point. The authorities interrogate the healed man because they want to find some discrepancy in his story so they can discredit Jesus. They don't want the truth, so the healed man chides them for their repeated questions. This bitter irony helps us understand that the authorities reject Jesus because they have decided he is the enemy and so they must re-write the truth of his grace and power. Unfortunately, there are those who do the same thing with Jesus today. Their evil deeds have alienated them from the truth. We, however, must love them, pray for their hearts to be changed, and live as people with a Christ-like character looking for an opportunity to share the Savior's grace.
Today's Prayer
Father, I have friends who are far from your Kingdom. I know that some of them have hardened their hearts because they are caught up in sin. Please use me and my influence to bring them to Jesus. Please be actively at work in their lives to do all within your will to give them reasons to re-evaluate their lives and the way they are living. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2022 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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